The Culture of the Camellia. 219 



I may here advert to the simplicity of its application. A 

 large water-pot full of this liquid manure is always kept be- 

 hind the camellia house, outside, of course. In watering, we 

 draw water from a tap at the back of the house, inside ; this 

 tap receives its water from a hydraulic ram, and the water- 

 pot of liquid manure being set beside the tap during the 

 watering, the operator, after nearly filling his pot at the tap, 

 pours about a pint of the powerful fluid into it. A couple 

 of pots-full will, in general, water the whole house, which 

 contains nearly a hundred plants. 



I have, I fear, been explicit to tediousness about the liquid 

 manure ; my object was, however, to prevent, if possible, 

 any misconception, as liquid manures have, I fear, hitherto 

 been prejudiced by thoughtless and unskilful applications. 



As Dr. Lindley recently observed, in his valuable paper, 

 " weak, clear, and often," should be the maxim ; indeed, it 

 is not quite clear to me, but we all use it too strong, even 

 thus diluted. 



Insects. I must now draw my observations to a close, by 

 a few remarks on the insects which most infest the camellia ; 

 these are, as far as my experience goes, the scaly insect, and 

 the ordinary aphides. 



I before alluded to the application of soft-soap water, for 

 the extirpation of the scaly insect ; my mode of application 

 is as follows : — 



Soft-soap is beat up in warm water, after the rate of two 

 ounces to a gallon of water ; a vessel containing such mix- 

 ture is kept at hand, during the period of the formation of 

 the bud ; that is to say, from the time the flower-buds are 

 first formed, until they are nearly as large as peas. 



I before observed, that regular syringings would be neces- 

 sary ; instead, then, of syringing twice a day with clear 

 water, I use this mixture, and after a week or two of this 

 treatment, the scale will have withered, or disappeared. 



For the ordinary aphides, of course, fumigation is had 

 recourse to : the fly generally makes its appearance whilst 

 the young shoots are extending, and the operation had better 

 be gentle, and repeated two evenings in succession. 



